Metrowest Family Dental

Metrowest Dental Treatment Information Center

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Cosmetic Dentistry

Crowns/Caps

Protect and restore badly decayed or fractured teeth.

The Problem:

• Badly decayed teeth
• Fractured teeth
• Need to protect and strengthen teeth

The Solution:

A crown (often called a cap) covers the tooth and restores it to its original shape and size. Decay is removed and cleaned from the tooth and a core build-up is placed to insulate the nerve and give the crown more surface area to bond to. Then a highly accurate impression or mold is made of the prepared surface. This mold is used to create a model of the tooth which is then sent to a special laboratory that will create a gold or porcelain (tooth colored) crown. Approximately two weeks later the crown is available for cementation onto the prepared surface of the tooth.

Often it is advantageous to whiten teeth before treatment so that the new restoration color matches the desired whiter, brighter smile.

Advantages of crowns:

Crowns are incredibly strong due to the fact that they are created in a laboratory. This protects and strengthens the remaining tooth structure. In the hands of a skilled dentist, a crown will fit almost perfectly onto the prepared surface of the tooth, reducing the size of the seam between the crown and the tooth. This helps keep decay from eventually occurring under the crown.

Crowns should be placed before the tooth is so compromised that it may fracture. This can often help prevent the need for root canal therapy and gum work in the future. It can also prevent the possibility that a fractured tooth may need to be removed, requiring the need of a bridge or implant to replace the missing tooth.

Disadvantages of crowns:

Crowns are excellent restorations and have few disadvantages. They are highly durable, but they will eventually need to be re-cemented or replaced due to normal wear.

Occasionally, a tooth may still need root canal therapy after being crowned, due to the unpredictable response of the nerve. The root canal can easily be done with the crown intact and a filling can be placed to seal the top of the crown.

Alternatives:

In the event that a tooth is so decayed or fractured that it needs to be removed, the best alternatives to a crown are bridges and implants that replace the missing tooth. We present all options and let our patient’s make the choice of treatment based upon the knowledge given to them about their dental condition.